2018 NBA Free Agency Diary

Rodney Hood ended his restricted free agency by accepting the Cavaliers' $3.4 million qualifying offer and placing a bet on himself for a big season this year.

He informed the Cavs of his decision today, sources told cleveland.com.

Hood, 25, a gifted, 6-8 forward, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He left a multiyear deal from the Cavs worth about $7 million per season on the table by accepting their qualifying offer.

Sources said Hood was seeking a contract for more than $9 million per season from the Cavs. For comparison, the Celtics signed restricted free agent Marcus Smart to a four-year, $52 million deal this summer, and the Bulls matched the four-year $78 million offer sheet Zach LaVine signed with the Kings.

Although I know I belong in the NBA, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be heading to China this upcoming season. The summer didn’t pan out as I hoped, but I assure you that I’ll be back on a NBA floor terrorizing people again soon enough.

Although I know I belong in the NBA, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be heading to China this upcoming season. The summer didn’t pan out as I hoped, but I assure you that I’ll be back on a NBA floor terrorizing people again soon enough.

Carmelo Anthony has verbally reached an agreement to sign with the Houston Rockets, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Anthony cleared free-agency waivers last week after a trade to the Atlanta Hawks on July 30 and his subsequent release, but had yet to commit to the Rockets. Anthony informed Houston of his decision to sign Tuesday after returning from Africa, league sources said. Anthony had unveiled a refurbished basketball court in South Africa last week.

After the loss of forwards Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, the Rockets prioritized Anthony, and the 10-time All-Star worked out repeatedly with Houston stars James Harden and Chris Paul this summer.

Free agent David Nwaba has agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Nwaba and the Cavaliers are still working on the final details of the deal, league sources said. The Cavaliers have remained in touch with Nwaba since the first day of free agency, recruited him over the past month and met with the 6-foot-4 swingman last week in Las Vegas, sources said.

Nwaba is expected to be a gritty rotation player for a Cavaliers roster aiming to compete in the Eastern Conference playoff race in 2018-19 without LeBron James. There is expected to be a tremendous opportunity for Nwaba in Cleveland, and he can provide starting or reserve minutes for Cavaliers coach Ty Lue.

In two NBA seasons with the Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Nwaba, 25, has established himself as a high-energy rotation player. He averaged 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.5 minutes in 70 games (21 starts) for Chicago last season.

Assuming the Rockets are able to finalize a deal with Carmelo Anthony this week, it likely wouldn’t be the team’s final piece of offseason business before training camp. Houston is still active on trade fronts, perusing the market for a wing defender, and remains interested in Kent Bazemore of the Atlanta Hawks—according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The Pelicans are also a team interested in acquiring Bazemore, but Atlanta is not interested in taking on Solomon Hill. New Orleans also has its 2019 first-round pick.

Carmelo Anthony has finalized a contract buyout with the Atlanta Hawks and plans to wait until clearing waivers to officially tell the Houston Rockets of his plans to sign a free-agent deal, league sources told ESPN.

The Hawks waived Anthony on Monday morning, paving the way for him to clear waivers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET.

Anthony will get his full $27.9 million salary for the 2018-19 season, accepting a $2.4 million reduction in his buyout with the Hawks that will essentially return to him once he signs $2.4 million veteran's-minimum deal with his new team, league sources said.